quite frighted, and urged all the reasons she could think on to make him change his purpose; and Camilla told him he should consider that her unhappy circumstances, and her being infamous, had thrown her so low, that a man might be more excusable for talking to her in that strain than to any other woman. What she said to pacify Valentine made David almost mad, and threw him so off his guard, he could not help saying, he thought she pleaded very well in the defence of her lover. On which he left the room and retired to his own chamber. When he was gone, Cynthia employed all her thoughts in endeavouring to calm Valentine.
Poor Camilla knew not which way to act: she saw David's uneasiness; it was not her pride which prevented her following him, and endeavouring to make him easy. But as he had never seriously declared more than a great friendship for her, she knew not which way to treat so delicate a passion as jealousy, whilst she must not own she saw it. She sat some time silent; but at last found the agitation of her mind was so great, it would be impossible for her to conceal her thoughts; and therefore, on the pretence of indisposition, retired to her own chamber, where she spent the whole night in greater anxiety than I can express. She did not feel one pleasing sensation from the idea that the man who loved her was in torment on her account; but, on the contrary, was melted into tenderness and grief at the thoughts of every pang be felt; and nothing but the most invincible regard to decency could have prevented her flying to him, and telling him the whole truth, in order to ease him of his pain.
As to David, the thoughts of Camilla's having ever liked another quite overcame him; he knew not whether he was awake or in a dream. But notwithstanding all the raging passions which
